How to Use your Natural Tools

If you're not familiar with the four major Methods of Herbal Consumption, take a peek at this article to learn about some of the ways that you can use herbs as medicine. There you'll learn how teas, tinctures, and capsules all work in the body as medicine.

Lemon

About: packed with Vitamin C and is high in potassium. Potassium is great because it supports the kidneys, which help cleanse the blood of waste and toxins (AKA that nasty virus). Has the terpene limonene.

To use:

ingestion

squeeze approximately 1/4 of a lemon and add juice to tea, smoothies, or even just water or another juice

inhalation

add 1-2 drops of lemon essential oil to your diffuser (Use discretion; everyone who comes into contact with the room will be dosed so make sure there aren't any safety concerns. Pets can also be particularly sensitive to essential oils)

add lemon juice or rinds to a facial steam (see above)

Safety:

Generally considered safe for use by everyone

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, lemon is considered safe in normal amounts

Honey

About: a powerful anti-inflammatory. When drank, honey coats the back of the throat and can reduce swelling and pain. It also has anti-bacterial properties that can help kill any unwanted germs that could be causing a sore throat.

To use: add anywhere from 1 tsp - 1 tbsp honey to your tea

Safety:

Never give honey to a child under 1 year old

Ginger

About: stimulates and activates the immune system. Ginger is also a great anti-inflammatory and can calm nausea. Has the terpene limonene.

To use:

tablets or capsules

take 250-500 mg 2-3 times per day

tea

fresh ginger: finely slice or grate approximately 1 inch of freshly peeled ginger. Place in saucepan with 2 cups of water on low heat for 15 minutes. Drink 1-3 cups per day for coughs and colds

dried ginger: pour 1 cup boiling water over 1/2 tsp dried ginger root in a tea bag or ball and allow to steep for 10 minutes

inhalation

add 1-2 drops of thyme essential oil to your diffuser (Use discretion; everyone who comes into contact with the room will be dosed so make sure there aren't any safety concerns. Pets can also be particularly sensitive to essential oils)

add fresh or dried herbs to a facial steam

Safety:

Pregnant women should not take more than 1 gram of dried ginger per day

Can cause mild heartburn in some people

Generally considered safe for people of all ages, even children and the elderly

Don't use in high doses if you are using blood thinners

Turmeric

About: a fantastic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Has the terpene limonene.

To use:

tablets or capsules

2-3 grams of turmeric per day

tea

pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 tsp turmeric in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes

Safety:

Eating turmeric is considered very safe

Some people may experience indigestion when using large amounts of turmeric

Do not eat unripe berries or products made from other parts of the elder plant, as they contain dangerous compounds

Use caution if you have an autoimmune disease

Cannabis

About: supports the immune system and has anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties. Has a variety of terpenes, depending on the strain. Below are strains that typically have the three anti-viral terpenes we focus on at Hempsley. If your dispensary doesn't typically provide a list of terpenes in their strains, check out this article to learn how you can start identifying terpenes on your own with just your nose!

pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp dried and ground cannabis flower in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Note: because the cannabinoid THC needs to bind to fat in order to cause intoxication, cannabis tea will not get you "high" unless you add a cannabis-infused fat, such as butter or coconut oil, to your tea

tinctures, tablets, and capsules

check the bottle label for dosing information (At Hempsley, we typically use a starting dose of 5-10mg of cannabinoids)

inhalation

vaporize dried cannabis flower or extracts (vaporization heats the cannabis enough to allow beneficial compounds to be released without creating a harmful combustion and smoke)

add fresh or dried herbs to a facial steam

Safety:

CBD is generally considered safe; minor light-headedness, drowsiness, and lowered blood pressure have been reported

Thyme

About: is antispasmodic and an expectorant, meaning that it calms coughs and clear mucus. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties and can boost the immune system. Has the terpene carvacrol, which is also found in oregano.

To use:

tea

fresh thyme: pour 1 cup boiling water over 3 tsp fresh thyme leaves in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Drink 2-3 times per day

dried thyme: pour 1 cup boiling water over 1.5 tsp fresh thyme leaves in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Drink 2-3 times per day

place dropper under tongue and hold 15-120 seconds or add to beverages

tablets, capsules, or syrups

check the bottle label for dosing information

sore throat spray

put thyme tea into a small spray bottle and mist the back of your throat to alleviate pain

topically

add 1-2 drops of thyme (or oregano) essential oil to 1 tsp carrier oil and dab or roll onto bottoms of feet (our feet have bigger pores than other areas of our bodies, making it easier for our bodies to absorb the essential oil)

inhalation

add 1-2 drops of thyme essential oil to your diffuser (Use discretion; everyone who comes into contact with the room will be dosed so make sure there aren't any safety concerns. Pets can also be particularly sensitive to essential oils)

add fresh or dried herbs to a facial steam

Safety:

Generally considered safe, especially when consumed as tea

Do not use while pregnant

Use caution if you have a thyroid condition, diabetes or low blood sugar, irregular blood pressure, bleeding disorder, or hormonal disorder

Peppermint

About: contains menthol, which supports the respiratory system by thinning and loosening mucus. Menthol can also relieve a stuffy nose and coughing. Has the terpene limonene.

To use:

tablets or capsules

500-1000 mg dried peppermint leaf taken 2-3 times per day, best taken with meals

tea

pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp dried peppermint leaves (or 6-8 fresh leaves) in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Drink 2-3 times per day after meals

sore throat spray

mix 1-2 drops of quality peppermint essential oil with 1 oz of your carrier oil of choice (we used olive oil) in a small spray bottle; spray onto back of throat for pain

lozenges

look for lozenges that contain 5-10 mg menthol (do not give menthol products to children under 2 years old)

inhalation

add 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil to your diffuser (Use discretion; everyone who comes into contact with the room will be dosed so make sure there aren't any safety concerns. Pets can also be particularly sensitive to essential oils)

add fresh or dried herbs to a facial steam

Safety:

Do not give to children under 2 years

Peppermint can worsen heartburn; do not use if you are taking the heartburn drug cisapride (Propulsid)

Do not use while pregnant

Do not use if you have gallbladder inflammation, severe liver damage, biliary duct problems, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or hiatal hernia

Mullein

About: soothes irritated lung and throat tissues by coating them with a thin film. Has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.

To use:

tea

pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 tbsp dried mullein leaf in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup 2-4 times per day

tincture

place 1-4 ml under tongue and hold 15-120 seconds, or add to beverages, 3 times per day

a classic way to use mullein is by infusing it with olive oil and then using for ear infections by placing 3-4 drops in the ear every few hours. You can also put it in a small spray bottle and spray it on the back of the throat to alleviate pain

Echinacea

About: one of the most studied herbal medicines, it supports the immune system by increasing antibodies and interferon levels (a compound released by the body when a virus enters the system to help fight off disease) and even stimulating white blood cells to work harder in order to fight off infection. Has the terpene limonene.

To use:

tea

pour 1 cup boiling water over 1-2 tsp dried echinacea in a tea bag or ball and steep for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup 2-4 times per day

tincture

place 1-2 ml under tongue and hold 15-120 seconds, or add to beverages, every 2 hours at the onset of a cold

Use caution if you have an autoimmune condition or are taking medications such as itraconazole (for fungal infections), lovastatin (for lowering cholesterol), fexofenadine (for allergies), or birth control

Use caution if you have allergies to plants in the Asteraceae (daisy) family

Some people experience mild stomach upset or dizziness

High doses can cause nausea

Toolboxes

The great thing about herbs is that they are incredibly versatile and can be used in tons of ways — but we know this can also be overwhelming! Below are a few consolidated lists of items that will cover your bases.